The Case of the Stolen Artifact
Chapter 16
1
The large jumbo jet airliner's wheels touched the ground as the plane taxied down the runway. Ed had not been to Paris in years. It was just his luck he was here for work instead of play. He wasn't kidding himself. This assignment was probably one of the most important he had ever been given. Katherine meant everything to the chief. If he lost her, he would be devastated. Brown had no intentions of allowing that to happen. He would find her and bring her back to the chief safely. He would not let down the one man he respected above all others.
As the plane taxied to a stop, Brown released his seat belt and stood up. Reaching above, he pulled his suitcase out of the overhead bin. Feeling a pull on his suit sleeve, he turn to look behind him. An elderly lady smiled at him.
"Young man, my suitcase is the red one. I can not reach it. Would you be so kind as to get it for me?"
With a smile on his face, Ed responded, "I would be happy to." Reaching up once again, he pulled the red suitcase down. It was rather heavy. He wondered how the little old lady could possibly carry it on her own. "Do you have someone waiting for you inside the terminal?"
"Why yes," she said excitedly. "My grandson is in the service. I raised him, you see, when my son and his wife were killed in a car accident. He paid for my ticket to come to see him. I have not seen him in a year."
"I'll tell you what. Why don't you let me carry that suitcase off the plane for you until you find your grandson?"
She lowered her eyes in suspicion. When Ed noticed, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his detective identification. "I am a cop from San Francisco. Your luggage is safe with me, and so are you." He smiled at her again to put her at ease.
She looked at Brown's detective badge and identification; it immediately put her at ease. "I thought you looked familiar. You work for Chief Ironside, and I have seen you with him on television. I am from San Francisco too." She gave him a big grin. "You will be allowed to carry my luggage, Sergeant Brown."
With both suitcases in hand, Ed waited with the elderly woman until the line of people in front of them began to move. With her in front of him, he filed out of the plane with the rest of the passengers. They walked into the terminal. A young man in an Army uniform was waving and shouting at the woman. They headed in their direction and Ed waited as she greeted her grandson. They hugged as the soldier looked over at Ed. He noticed he was carrying the red suitcase he had purchased for his grandmother the previous Christmas.
Ed could tell by the stripes on his uniform the young man was a lieutenant. As the man put out his hand, Ed took it and shook his hand. "I can't thank you enough for helping my grandmother."
Ed smiled. "It was my pleasure, Lieutenant. Your service to this country is much appreciated. I served in the Marines."
"A jarhead, huh?" the lieutenant said with a grin.
Ed nodded and returned the grin. "And proud of it."
A glint of recognition appeared in the lieutenant's eyes. "Don't I know you?"
"This is Sergeant Brown," his grandmother told him. "He works for Chief Ironside."
The lieutenant nodded. "Of course! I have seen you with the chief. I am sorry for everything going on in San Francisco. I hope the chief is cleared of any wrong doing. I don't believe any of it for a second."
They had Ed at a disadvantage since they knew who he was, but he did not know who they were. "I am sorry, I don't think I got your name."
"Lieutenant Grant Becker. This is my grandmother, Gertrude Becker. She raised me when my parents were killed in an accident."
"Well, Lieutenant Becker, I hope the two of you have a pleasant visit." Ed handed the red suitcase to the officer and turned to go.
"Just a minute, Sergeant. If you don't mind me asking, are you on holiday here in Paris?" the lieutenant asked.
"Not exactly. The chief sent me here to find someone who is missing, possibly kidnapped."
"Really, that's terrible. Could I be of some assistance. I mean I have been over here for quite sometime and I would be happy to help you if I can. It is the least I can do for your kindness to my grandmother."
Ed thought about it for a minute and decided it was a good idea. He did not know anyone in Paris, and it would be to his advantage to have the help of someone who knew there way around. "I would very much appreciate it."
"Great! Come on, my car is just outside. There are advantages to being in the service. I have a government vehicle and can park just about anywhere."
Grant Becker took his grandmother by the elbow. Ed smiled as it immediately reminded him of Perry Mason, who always led Della Street in the same manner. He let Becker lead him to a vehicle parked just outside the airport. Becker took his suitcase and put it in the trunk of the car along with his grandmother's suitcase.
"Ed, if it is alright with you, there is a hotel close to the base. That is where you can stay. I can keep in touch with you easily that way."
"That's fine," Ed agreed. He sat back in the back seat of the car and watched as the lieutenant pulled the vehicle into the very busy streets of the airport. Soon they were headed for the army base.
A vehicle which was sitting a ways away from the lieutenant's spot, watched as Becker pulled into the road. They had been sitting there as if they were waiting to pick someone up. Actually, they were, they just wanted to follow them, not pick them up physically.
"Well, the boss was right. Ironside sent someone to find the woman," the man in the passenger seat said in French.
"He has a good informant in San Francisco. Besides, it doesn't take a genius to figure out he would send someone after his woman. Check the file. Find out who the guy is that got off the plane. We also need to find out who the soldier was that picked him up," the driver ordered.
The passenger picked up the file he was carrying off the floor of the vehicle. He opened it and rifled through the pictures of cops and private detectives from San Francisco.
"Well, is this guy a private eye?" the driver asked.
"No, in fact, he is Ironside's sergeant," the passenger replied.
"I was afraid of that. It stands to reason he would pick his best man to come after her. We will follow these people. The boss said to make sure the man Ironside sent does not get too close. The woman is not to be found until after the trial. Then we can kill her and dump the body.
2
Eve Whitfield got off her plane just about the same time Ed was deplaning in Paris. She picked up her luggage, left the airport and hailed a cab. Having worked for Robert Ironside for a number of years, her senses were on high alert. Without giving anyone a hint of what she was doing, Eve continually checked to see if she was being followed. It did not take long as she discovered there was a car behind them. Eve instructed the cab driver to make several turns. Sure enough, the car made the turns with them, yet at a distance. They were not very apt at tailing. Eve figured she could do a better job and had when ordered by Ironside to tail someone. She reached into her purse and pulled out some money in the currency of the land. Reaching over the cab driver's shoulder, Eve said, "This is yours if you can lose the tail behind us."
The driver looked in the rear-view mirror. "I thought we had a tail, but wasn't sure. You got it, lady. I will lose them. He sped up the vehicle and raced through the streets. The vehicle behind them also sped up, keeping pace with the cab driver. Eve watched out the window and held on as the driver began making erratic turns left and right. The vehicle behind them still kept pace.
Suddenly, the cab driver pulled into an alley between two buildings and hit the button on a gadget that was hooked to the visor. He made a sharp turn and pulled into an opening and then hit the button again, closing the door. They sat there for fifteen minutes before the driver re-opened the door and backed out. Slowly, he pulled out of the alley in the opposite direction which he had entered. Looking both ways down the street, he did not see the vehicle.
"Okay, where to lady?" he asked.
"The nearest hotel," Eve answered.
"You got it." He drove a few blocks down the street and pulled in front of a hotel with an Italian name. "This is good as any. If you don't mind me asking, why does an American visiting Italy have a tail following her through the streets of Rome?"
Eve handed the man the fare with the extra money she had promised him as well as a very large tip. "Your guess is as good as mine."
"That means it is none of my business," he said, and then said something in Italian Eve could not understand.
The driver got out of the car and pulled Eve's suitcase out for her. He watched as she disappeared into the hotel. Once she was out of sight, the car that had been following them pulled up behind him. A man got out of the car and walked up to the window of the vehicle. He passed money through the window and spoke to him in Italian. "Very good, she will have no idea we know where she is. You may go on your way."
Speaking in his native tongue, the cab driver asked, "What do you want with her anyway? Why are you interested in this American?"
"What American? There is no American, and you did not bring her here, is that clear?" He handed the driver more money.
"It's clear." He pulled his cab away from the curb and went on his way. If only he could be approached by more people like that guy. He made money off him and the American, and he would not have to declare any of it to the cab company.
3
Sergeant Terry Cox didn't care what Lieutenant Simmons said. He was going to nail Ironside. It would not only get him maximum publicity for bringing down the damn cripple that was holding up his career, he would become a hero for exposing a dishonest cop. He had no evidence Ironside was dishonest, but that would not stop him. He was going to destroy the man regardless whether he was or not. Terry was sure Ironside was dirty as he no doubt let Alexandra Hughes get away the first time with the Tiger. It never occurred to him that Ironside told the truth about what happened. He was involved with the woman. Despite the fact Ironside knew she was in San Francisco to steal the Tiger, he spent time with her trying to rekindle an old love affair.
After letting her get away the first time, he did it again. He allowed her to come right into his office and he did not arrest her. In fact, he did not until the Tiger was stolen this time for good. No one would see that artifact again except for the person Ironside had it sold to. If Terry could nail Ironside he would make lieutenant. It was never the test, he could pass those with flying colors. It had always been Ironside. He simply spoke to the person in charge of the promotion, and Terry was out in the cold. Ironside had prevented him from being promoted. Well, not anymore. He was going to run Ironside out of the department. No one was going to stop him, not Murray Simmons and not Commissioner Randall. That was all there was to it.
Sergeant Terry Cox stopped his vehicle next door to where Hughes and her accomplices had stayed the last time they were in town to steal the Tiger. He had checked, and the same people lived next door that had been living there when Ironside let Hughes get away. Granted, it was a neighborhood of rich people, and the houses were not very close together, but he was certain the people would be more than cooperative with the money he was given to bribe them with.
Sergeant Cox got out of the vehicle and walked up the long walk to the house. There were as series of steps that would take him up to the level of the house that sat on a hill. Once he had climbed the steps, he walked down another long sidewalk made entirely of brick. As he arrived at the house, Cox climbed another set of stairs before reaching the house. He looked over at the home Alexandra Hughes Louis Baine and Eli Schneider had stayed in the last time they were in San Francisco. He could see directly into the driveway of that home. In fact, he had a perfect view of that driveway. Cox smiled. Now all he had to do was jog the memory of the owner. If it did not agree with the scenario he wanted, well then, he would simply bride him or her.
Cox rang the doorbell and waited. A man came to the door, He opened it far enough to see who was on the other side. "What do you want?"
The sergeant pulled out his detective's badge and showed it to the man. "I am Sergeant Cox. I would like to ask you some questions."
"I don't know anything about anything." When he attempted to close the door, Cox push against it to keep it from shutting and locking.
"Look, Mister, you can answer my questions now or you can answer them down at the police station. It makes no difference to me."
The man hesitated for a minute, but finally open the door and let Cox enter his home. "Why don't you guys go harass someone else?"
"It is not my intention to harass you, sir. I am simply trying to get information."
"What information?" the man asked.
"Well, for starters, how about your name?" Cox asked.
"My name is Will Grays. Now what do you want?"
"Why don't we sit down in your living room where I am sure it is more comfortable instead of staying in this foyer." Terry noted the foyer was as large as his entire apartment. Why couldn't he live this way instead of having to struggle by on a sergeant's pay. The San Francisco Police Department didn't pay squat as far as he was concerned. That is why he had to move up in the detective bureau. A captain made considerably more than he did. Maybe Sergeant Brown was happy with the salary he was making, but he wasn't. Although, he had no doubt Ironside's boy made a lot more than he did.
"I did not ask for you to come here and I have no intentions of making you more comfortable. So ask your questions and get out of here."
"Alright. I will ask them here. Were you here in residence the day that Alexandra Hughes stole the Tiger?"
"What? I don't even know an Alexandra Hughes," Gray said.
"She is the woman that stole the Tiger from the Chinese Exhibit at the Museum." Cox pulled a picture out of his pocket and showed it to Grays.
Will Grays looked at the picture and immediately handed it back to him. "Never saw the woman in my life."
Cox pushed the picture back at him and said," Look again." At the same time he reached into his pocket and pulled out hundred-dollar bills with a $1000 strip around them holding them together. Will Grays' eyes widen at the sight of the money. "Let me see that picture again."
Terry Cox knew he had him. He would say anything he wanted him to say. He handed him the money. His employer had been right about flashing money. What this guy didn't know is his employer was willing to pay a lot more money, and Terry was going to give him the opportunity to collect it.
"She tried to run away with the Tiger, but Robert Ironside found out she was here."
"Yes, I remember that. Ironside tried to stop her from leaving by wheeling his chair in front of her car."
Sergeant Cox shook his head.
"That is not what happened?" Grays asked.
"No, you know what happened. You heard Ironside tell her to throw the Tiger out the window and he would hide it."
"Ironside? You must be kidding?" Grays said sarcastically.
Cox pulled another $1000 in banded twenties out of his pocket. "Don't you remember?
"Oh yes, I remember now. That is exactly what happened." Cox handed him the money.
"And you heard Ironside tell her they would meet up later to divide the money, didn't you?" When Grays hesitated, Cox pulled out another bundle of hundreds totaling $1000.00.
"Yes, that is what Ironside said."
Cox handed him the money. "But, Ironside's men came out before he could hide the Tiger, and when Hughes saw them coming, she sped out of the driveway." To make sure he agreed, Cox pulled out another $1000.
"Yes, I saw her leave."
"And Ironside's people went around the back to arrest the other two."
"It might have happened that way," Grays said. Cox gave him another $1000. "Yes, that is what happened," he corrected himself.
"Good, now you could be called to testify at an Internal Affairs Investigation," Cox warned him.
"Oh, I don't want to get involved with that," Grays told him.
Cox pulled ten packs of hundred-dollar bills totaling $10,000." He watched as Will Grays' jaw dropped. "Alright I will testify."
Sergeant Terry Cox handed him the money. "Remember, you will repeat exactly what you saw. He emphasized the word "saw" to make sure Grays understood he was to tell it exactly as he had dictated it to him. "There will be another $50,000 when you have testified.
Grays grinned. He held out all of the money Cox had given him and said, "For this I will swear Ironside got out of that chair!"
"That won't be necessary. Just remember what you are to testify to."
"You can count on me," Will said.
"We better be able to. Because if you don't do exactly as I have told you, my employer will see to it that you never spend that money, or any other money for that matter. Do I make myself clear?"
"Perfectly," Will said, now worried about what he got himself into.
Terry Cox left, confident he had the witness that would bring Ironside down.
4
Robert Ironside woke up the next morning. Both Eve and Ed had called him and let him know they had arrived in their respective cities safely. He would have preferred to go himself, but the flaming Internal Investigation prevented him from leaving. When he found out who was behind this, there was going to be hell to pay. Someone was trying to keep him from investigating the Museum theft and the murder of Howard Jurgens. He believed there would be more mud slung his way before it was all over.
The problem he had right now was Ben Matlock. Although, he knew the man was just trying to protect him, he was also hindering him from finding out what was going on. Now, he didn't even have Ed and Eve to investigate. He had to depend on Paul Drake and Conrad McMasters. Paul Drake was an excellent investigator. Perry would not have anyone but the best. However, Ironside did not know much about Conrad McMasters. Paul needed more help. McMasters was just too much of an unknown for Ironside to accept.
He looked over to see where his wheelchair was. Sometimes it was within his reach, other times Mark would take it upon himself to decide the chief needed more sleep, and he would put it out of his reach. Ironside really did not know why he did it, as it would only force him to yell for Mark and order him to bring the chair closer to the bed. He was not going to sleep any longer after he woke up. Too much would be going on in his mind to allow him to go back to sleep.
The chair was within his reach. The former Chief of Detectives reached out and pulled the chair directly next to his bed. Using his upper body strength, Ironside grabbed the bar Mark had installed for him and lowered himself into his chair after putting on his robe with some difficulty. He could have called for Mark to help him, but sooner or later the young man would move on, and the chief had to learn to do for himself. He wheeled out of the bedroom and into the main room of his office-residence. Mark was at the stove cooking breakfast. The chief could smell the aroma of bacon and eggs.
He wheeled into the kitchen area. "Eggs -- I would rather have oatmeal. I thought I smelled it when I woke up."
"You did," Mark said.
"Then where is the oatmeal?" Ironside said.
"Your lawyer and his private detective ate it," Mark responded.
"Well, make some more," the chief snarled.
"I can't. They ate the last of it."
"Forget the eggs, just pour me a cup of coffee."
"There isn't any ready"
"And why not?" Ironside demanded. Before Mark could answer, Ironside said, "My attorney drank it."
Mark grinned. "That's right. You are going to have to get up earlier, Chief if you want to get fresh coffee."
Perry and Della came out of Mark's room. "I smell bacon and eggs," Mason said. "Is there enough for both Della and me." The lawyer and his secretary were impeccably dressed and wide awake.
"There is as long as you don't want oatmeal," Ironside growled. "I am going to take a shower."
"Ah, I don't think so," Mark said. "At least not right now."
"And why not?"
"Because Ben Matlock is in the bathroom. With the old system in this office there won't be any hot water for at least an hour since Perry and Della and Conrad took showers this morning as well."
When Perry noticed the look on his brother's face, he began grinning.
"Seems I am not the only one that takes a long time in the bathroom."
Ironside looked at his brother, saw the grin on his face. "Don't you have to be in court this morning?"
"Not before breakfast. I'll have eggs, Mark, and so will Della."
Mark brought a plate of eggs and bacon over to the couple and placed them in front of them. He then set two cups of coffee down for them.
"Where's my coffee?" Ironside complained.
"Coming right up, Chief." Mark turned around to go back to the kitchen.
Ben Matlock came out of the bathroom. "Is that fresh coffee I smell. I could use another cup. He went into the kitchen and poured himself another cup of coffee.
The door to the office opened and Paul Drake entered. "Boy, does that coffee smell good"
Ben grinned. "Help yourself. Mark sure can make a mean cup of coffee. It is almost as good as a good hot cup of Georgia coffee."
Paul poured himself a cup and joined everyone at the table. Conrad came into the office and headed directly for the kitchen. He poured himself a cup and walked over to the table.
Mark looked at the pot, which only contained about a half cup of coffee. He poured it into a mug and took it over to the table. Setting it in front of Ironside, he could not help but grin.
The chief picked up the mug, looked inside and set it back down. Looking up at Mark, he complained, "The bottom of the pot?"
Mark nodded. "You always tell me to make the coffee strong. It won't get any stronger than that."
The chief set the mug down and headed for the bathroom. He shouted over his shoulder, "I am going to go take a nice COLD shower."
Mason called out, "At least you did not have to listen to Ben's guitar this morning." Perry could not help himself. He started laughing. Matlock looked at the lawyer and said, "Am I missing something?"
That only made Mason laugh all the more.
5
Perry and Della arrived at the Courthouse to the usual reporters and media circus that always followed them where ever they went. Mason guided Della up the stairs and inside.
"You would think I would get use to this by now," Della said.
"It is never going to change, Della. It will only get worse with every trial."
"I know. I can't help be amazed at the attention every trial you work gets."
Mason smiled. "It isn't me they are here to see. They can't resist your beautiful face."
"Yeah, right," Della said as they walked up the aisle to the defendant's table.
Perry opened the gate that separated the defendant, prosecutor, judge and witnesses from the spectators, and Della walked through ahead of him. She took her place on the other side of Alexandra Hughes, who had already been brought in by the bailiff.
Perry smiled at Alexandra to try to put her at ease. Setting his briefcase down on the table, he opened it, pulled out a few papers and placed them in order on the table. The lawyer glanced at Alexandra. She was watching him intently. He had a pretty good idea why. "I take it you have not heard from Bob?"
"No, I am afraid not. I really need to talk to him, Mister Mason. Will you please ask him to come see me?"
Mason frowned. "I am not sure his lawyer is going to allow it, Miss Hughes. After all, Bob is being investigated by Internal Affairs. Part of that reason is his relationship with you. I will relay your concerns to him if you would like."
"No, I need to talk to him alone. Please tell him it is important. I heard that Katherine Denuerve and Tracy Oliver were lured out of the country. Is that true?"
"I am afraid it is," Mason confirmed.
"I might be able to help him find them. Please tell him to come see me."
"I can relay any information you may have on their whereabouts."
"You don't understand, Mister Mason, I can only talk to him about this. Please, do as I ask."
Alexandra was pleading with him. Perry didn't like it, but he decided to do as she asked. "Alright, I will tell him. I can't promise you he will see you."
"I understand. Thank you, Mister Mason."
The bailiff announced, "All rise! Court is now in session. The Honorable Judge Herman Thatcher presiding." Everyone in the courtroom stood up as Judge Thatcher entered from his chamber door and took his place on the bench.
"Please be seated," Thatcher ordered. As everyone sat back down, he looked out over the room. Every seat was full and reporters lined the back of the room. He didn't have to see Perry Mason to know he was the defense attorney. Only he could cause this kind of media circus. It seemed the man may as well move his practice to San Francisco as often as he showed up in his courtroom.
"In the manner of the People versus Alexandra Hughes…." Thatcher stopped and looked over at Deputy Prosecutor, Gary Sullivan. "Will you be prosecuting this case or are you standing in for Prosecuting Attorney, Paul Mantee?" Paul Mantee had been elected in the latest election, beating out Gary Sullivan for the job. Thatcher was surprised to see Sullivan as Mantee always took the high profile cases, and they did not get anymore high profile than a case with Perry Mason defending.
"No, Mister Mantee is prosecuting another case, Your Honor." I will be handling the prosecution case for this trial," Sullivan answered.
"Is the prosecution ready?" Thatcher asked.
"Yes, Your Honor."
"And, Mister Mason, I see you have returned to San Francisco. I think I mentioned your return at the arraignment."
Perry smiled. "You did indeed, Your Honor."
"Is the defense ready?"
"We are," Mason answered in the affirmative.
"Then we shall proceed. "Mister Sullivan, do you want to make an opening statement?"
"No, Your Honor, we will save the court time and make it at the trial itself," Sullivan announced.
"IF there is a trial," Thatcher pointed out. He knew better than to think that was a given when Mason was involved. He ended more murder trials in the preliminary hearings than any other attorney the judge could think of.
"Yes, Your Honor, if there is a trial. However, I might add I believe we will prove the motive, opportunity and reason to believe that the defendant was involved with the planning of the theft of the Chinese Tiger as well as the murder of Howard Jurgens," Sullivan said.
"I thought you weren't going to make an opening statement," Thatcher said to laughter. When the room quieted down, he turned his attention to Perry Mason. "Mister Mason, do you want to make an opening statement, or shall I say a non-opening statement?"
Perry stood up and smiled. "No statement, Your Honor, non or otherwise."
"Good, then let's get on with it gentlemen. Mister Sullivan, call your first witness."
6
"Where are we going?" Mark Sanger asked Conrad McMasters.
"We are going to find out just exactly who pressured the mayor to order an Internal Investigation on your boss and why. It simply doesn't make sense that anyone would question whether he could stand up to a moving vehicle from a wheelchair."
"So we are going to see the mayor?" Mark surmised.
"Do you have a better idea?" Conrad asked.
"Maybe. If we go see the mayor, that will tip off whoever is pressuring him. I know the mayor better than you do and he sticks his finger in the wind to see which way it is blowing. He pressured the city council because someone pressured him. Maybe there is someone who knows who pressured him."
"Okay, I'll buy it. Just who might that be?" Conrad asked.
"The commissioner. He is a friend of the chief's and he will do whatever he can to help him. He might be able to tell us where the pressure is coming from."
Conrad started the borrowed police car, courtesy of the police department. They told them to use any of their resources that would help Chief Ironside. Conrad put the patrol car in gear and pulled out of the police garage. "Where's the siren on this thing. I always wanted to drive one of these cars with the siren on."
"Don't you think it would be better if we didn't draw attention to ourselves," Mark questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Somehow, I knew you were going to say that." They drove in silence as Mark gave him directions to the Hall of Justice. When they arrived, Conrad parked the vehicle in a parking spot that was marked for the police. "Where's his office?"
"On one of the higher floors. We will have to take the elevator." Mark led the way inside, then to the elevator he normally wheeled his boss into, when they went to see the commissioner. After the doors opened, Mark headed for the commissioner's office. He opened the door and the two men went in.
"We would like to see the commissioner," Mark said.
"I wasn't aware you had an appointment," the secretary said.
"We don't," Conrad told her. "I am a private investigator hired by Ben Matlock, Chief Ironside's attorney."
"Oh, I thought Perry Mason was his attorney. Just a moment." She picked up the receiver and then pressed the intercom. After she announced them to Dennis Randall, she set the phone back in the cradle and said, "The commissioner said for you to go right in."
"Thank you," Conrad said with a smile. He followed Mark into the double doors of Randall's office.
"Hello, Mark," Randall greeted.
"Commissioner," Mark returned.
"You are the private eye working for Bob's attorney?" Randall asked even though he already knew from the conversation with his secretary."
"That is right," Conrad answered. "Mark seems to think that you can help me."
"Oh, how so?"
"Commissioner, we believe Chief Ironside is being set up to take a fall for something he didn't do."
Randall sighed. "Yes, I believe that also. I hope you are able to protect him."
"Who would want Chief Ironside out of the way of the Museum theft and the murder of Howard Jurgens, and why?" McMasters inquired.
Dennis walked around his desk and sat down. "Bob has made a lot of enemies over the years. Most of them are either crooks on the street or crooks in prison. Unfortunately, he doesn't always use tack in dealing with people and he can be quite intimidating. There is one or two on the city council that don't like him and there are a few police officers that dislike him because his opinion carries a lot of weight when it comes to promotions."
"Would they hate him enough to set him up?" Conrad asked.
"I don't think that is all that is in play here," Randall said. "I believe someone in the department was in on the theft at the Museum and possibly the murder itself."
"Would you have any idea who that could be?" Conrad asked.
"Mark would know as much as I would. Someone pressured the mayor to investigate the chief. It could be that person, probably a disgruntled cop. I will tell you one thing. I got a call from Murray Simmons. He said Cox has been pushing him on the investigation."
"Who's Cox?" Conrad asked.
"Sergeant Terry Cox," Mark said. "He is not one of the chief's biggest fans."
Conrad wanted more information than that. "Why is that?"
"Bob has been holding up any promotions he applies for. He passed the exam for lieutenant, but when a position opens in the department, Bob stops it."
"Why?" Conrad asked.
"He's hot tempered. Although, I don't know why that would be a reason. Bob can be hot tempered."
"The difference is, Commissioner," Mark said, "it doesn't cloud the chief's judgement."
"Because Bob is a professional. I didn't mean it the way you took it. I meant…..oh never mind, it's not important. What I do mean is it does affect how Sergeant Cox performs his job, and Bob questions his honesty as well."
"How good a judge of people is Chief Ironside?" Conrad asked.
"The best there is," Randall said. "You will find no one better than he at reading people. That is why everyone accepts his recommendations when it comes to personnel, especially detectives."
"Well, then, I think we should start with Sergeant Terry Cox," Conrad suggested. "Commissioner, is there a way, we can get Cox's schedule for the last month?"
Randall picked up the phone. When his secretary answered, he said," Call Murray Simmons and get Sergeant Terry Cox reports for the last month." He hung up the phone. Within ten minutes, there was a knock on the door. Randall's secretary walked in with the reports he requested and handed them to the commissioner. Randall looked them over and gave them to Conrad McMasters.
McMasters began skimming down the reports. When he got to the end of them, he said, "They are not complete, they don't account for all of his time."
"He has been cited for that very thing more than once," Randall said. "It is one of the reason's Bob doesn't trust him. He never is able to explain where he has been."
"Doesn't a detective have a partner?" Mark asked.
"Of course, a least the regular ones do. Ed and Eve don't have partners and neither does Bob, but they work together under Bob. His is a special crime unit authorized by my office," Randall told Mark, but mostly directing his remarks towards McMasters.
McMasters saw the notation that Cox had been assigned to the Internal Investigation on Robert Ironside. Turning the paper towards Randall, he said, "As of yesterday, Cox was assigned to investigate Chief Ironside. Did Lieutenant Murray assign him to the case?"
"No, Murray didn't want him. He doesn't trust him anymore than Bob does," Randall answered.
"Then who assigned him, you?" McMasters stared the commissioner in the eye.
"It came down from the mayor," Randall said. "I didn't have any choice in the manner and neither did Murray."
"Why would the mayor assign someone from Internal Affairs with a questionable reputation?" Mark asked.
"My guess is someone pressured Pat into it," Randall responded.
"Pat? You mean Patrick Simpson?" Conrad asked.
Randall nodded in acknowledgement.
"Is there a possibility Cox could have something on the mayor forcing him to place him on the case?" Conrad wondered.
"Pat, oh heavens no. He is a bit wishy-washy, but he could not be blackmailed. He is about as honest as they come. He has been our mayor for several years. I would bet he has never even gotten a parking ticket. Besides, he likes Bob. He is always demanding he be put on all the tough cases. Right now, he is just trying to avoid a media feeding frenzy. Chief Ironside is high profile, and this is all going to make it into the trial, which means it will make it into the news. Pat has stated he wants Bob cleared immediately. He will be checking everyday on the progress of the Internal Affairs Investigation."
"Someone had to pressure him into putting Cox on the case. If it wasn't Cox with some sort of blackmail, then someone else pressured him to assign the sergeant."
"I am sorry Mister McMasters, I simply don't know. I find it hard to believe that he could be blackmailed, he's clean. Even Bob would tell you that."
"I am not questioning his integrity, Commissioner. What I am questioning is why he was compelled to put Cox on the case," Conrad said.
"It's called CYA," Randall said. "He is simply covering his ass. Pat is more worried about what the people of San Francisco will think of his handling of the situation."
"Still someone pressured him to put Cox on the case, Commissioner. That someone could possibly know more about what is going on."
"In that case, I would suggest you talk to Mayor Simpson. He is a straight shooter. He will level with you," Randall told him. "If he can help clear Bob, believe me, he will tell you whatever you need to know."
"Okay, well thank you. I think I will do just that. Is his office in this building?" Conrad asked.
"Two floors down," Mark said.
"Can I keep this information on Terry Cox?" Conrad asked.
"That is why I had my secretary run it off. I hope it will help you with your investigation of Sergeant Cox, and Mister McMasters, if you find the sergeant had anything to do with what happened at that Museum, I want to know immediately."
"You can count on it, Commissioner." Conrad indicated to Mark the interview was over and they left the commissioner's office. "Do you know where the mayor's office is?"
"Like I said, two floors down," Sanger replied.
"Let's go pay him a visit."
Mark and Conrad went immediately to the elevator and rode it down the two floors. When they got off, Mark led the private eye to Mayor Simpson's office. After the mayor's secretary checked with her boss, she told them he would see them immediately.
Conrad and Mark entered his office. Mayor Patrick Simpson met them at the door. "Come in, gentlemen. Have a seat."
They sat down in chairs in front of the mayor's desk as he walked around and sat in a very well padded executive chair. Simpson narrowed his eyes. "You are supposed to stay out of this investigation, Mister Sanger."
Immediately, coming to Mark's defense, Conrad said, "He is traveling with me only as an observer, Mister Mayor. That was the agreement. There are things Mark knows that can help me with my investigation, such as talking to you."
"I see, well, I guess it is alright as long as he stays out of it. I understand you work for Chief Ironside's lawyer."
"That's right," Conrad confirmed.
"I hope you are making headway clearing Robert. We need him on this investigation. I fear we will not find that Tiger without him. The Chinese Government is already upset with us. So far they have not made an incident out of it, but that will not last. So clear Robert so he can be assigned to this case, and do it fast."
"That is our intention, Mister Mayor. There are some questions I need to ask you," Conrad told him.
"Shoot."
"Well, first of all, I would like to know why Sergeant Terry Cox was assigned to this case. My understanding is he has less than a stellar reputation," McMasters said.
"I cannot disagree with that. It was the decision of the council, after my recommendation that another officer be assigned. Lieutenant Simmons is an excellent officer, decorated several times. The problem is he came on the force before Robert. He sort of took Robert under his wing, and they became fast friends, still are to this day. The City Council was concerned it would look like we were sweeping it under the rug. So a second man was requested."
"Who suggested Terry Cox?" Mark asked.
"Actually no one did. Terry came to me asking to be put on the investigation. Since we needed another man, I authorized it. I know he doesn't like Robert, and I figured he would be a good balance to Murray who might be just a bit bias in Robert's favor. This way the people of San Francisco will be satisfied that it is a fair investigation."
"It doesn't bother you that Cox dislikes Chief Ironside?" Conrad said.
"No, despite that, I believe he will be fair. He is not going to go about manufacturing evidence. Would he like to find something? Well, I have no doubt he would, but Robert Ironside is an honest cop. He will find nothing, and when that happens, the council will be satisfied and Robert will be in the clear. The commissioner can then get him back on the case immediately. We have to find that Tiger, and we need Robert to do that."
"Can you remember if any member mentioned him as a possible addition?" Conrad inquired.
Simpson thought for a moment. "No, I can't really. It was my decision to have him added after he requested to be on the investigation."
"Okay, I think that is about it, Mister Mayor. Thanks for your cooperation." Conrad and Mark turned to go.
"Mister McMasters. I want Chief Ironside cleared. I told Murray that. I told Terry that and I am telling you. We need that man to find the Tiger."
"We intend to clear him Mister Mayor, and we don't care who gets taken down in the process."
"Good, that's exactly what I want to hear." Simpson turned away from them and went back to work with is paperwork.
When they got into the elevator, Conrad said, "What do you think?"
"I think Terry Cox maneuvered the mayor into putting him on the investigation, and I think we need to find out why."
"I couldn't agree more," Conrad said. "Let's follow him and see where it leads us."